Conveyer control apparatus



Feb. 8, 1944. L. o. REICHELT EIAL QONVEYER CONTROL APPARATUS 1942 2Sheets- Sheet 1 Filed 1m. 10

TOENEY INVENTQES L. O. ,EE/CHELT G. C. SPILLMHN Y ,4

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Patented Feb. 8, 1944 2,341,386 CONVEYER CONTROL APPARATUS Lester 0.Reichelt, Cranford, and Gordon 0. Spillman, Roselle, N. J., assig'norsto Western Electric Company, Incorporated; New York, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application November 10, 1942, Serial No.465,120

12 Claims. (Cl. 193-40) This invention relates to article conveyercontrol apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for controllingthe movement of reels rolling on an inclined trackway- It is an objectofthe present invention to provide a simple apparatus for accuratelyregulating the travel of articles on a conveyer.

In accordance with One embodiment of the invention, an apparatus isprovided for regulating the speed of travel of reels rolling alongatrackway wherein a reel entering a predetermined blocked section of thetrackway initiates the operation of an electric circuit, which circuitautomatically efiects the release of a blocking de-v vice in saidsection of the trackway after a, predetermined interval of time haselapsed to permit the reel which tripped the circuit to resume itstravel along the trackway. As the reel passes out of engagement with theblocking device, it actuates a circuit restoring switch, which restoresthe circuit to normal position for operation by a succeeding reel. v

A better understanding of the invention will be had by reference to thefollowing detailed ,description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of aconveyer, for use in connection with a. flyer strander and provided withcontrol apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention,parts of the apparatus being broken away to illustrate the constructionof parts positioned in therear thereof;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View, taken substantiallyalone the line 22 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a. circuit schematic showing, diagrammatically, the electricalconnections for controlling, the mechanical structure illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2; 1

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan section through the control,portion of the apparatus taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig.1 in the direction of the arrows; I

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallyalong the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows; and H Fig.6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along theline 6-6 of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows.

,In the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate the sameparts throughout the several views, a reel IE] is shown in dot and dashlines in a number of positions in the apparatus. The apparatuscomprising the herein disclosed embodiment of the present invention isadapted foruse in connection with the mechanism disclosed. in theco-pending application of Axel C. Nystrom and Lester O. Reichelt, SerialNo- 397,402,: filed JunelO, 1941, wherein the reels I0 roll down aconveyer track H, the left end (Fig. 1)., of which is rounded, as shownat [2, to permit reels It] to roll off the conveyer track ll onto,atrackway l3. As seen most clearly in Fig. 2, the trackways l and 13 arecomprised of angle members 14 and. Hi and I6 and I1, respectively.

The angle members I4 and [5 are mounted upon suitable supportingbrackets l8 and I9, respectively, which extend from the upper surface ofangle iron frame members 20 and 2|. The angle members 14 and I5 arerounded, a indicated at l2,;an the angle members lfiand I! are curved onan are having. the same center point as the rounded portion l2 of theangle members Hand l5. The angle members It and I! extend up:- wardly toprovide a guide 22, forming an extension of the trackway l3 and servingto direct reels l0 rolling off the left end of the track ll onto thetrackway l3. The angle members 20 and 21 and the angle members l6 and I!are supported by posts 2323 and 24-24, which are fixed in base anglemembers 25 and 26.

It will be noted, by referenceto Fig. 1, that the trackway l3 slopesdownwardly to the right and that the track ll slopes downwardly to theleft, Thus, the reels ID on the track II will rolldown thetrack II andoil the end of it and thence onto the lower track i3. Due to the factthat the weight of the reels varies to a considerable ex tent, theirmomentum will vary to an appreciable extent and reels on the trackway I3might be damaged unless they are checked after they have dropped oil thetrackway ll. 7 r i In the present embodiment of the invention, this isaccomplished by forcing each reelto engage a pair of wedge plates 30 and3| in direct vertical alignment with the angle members l6 and IT. Thewedge plates 30 and 3| are supported by the framemember 20 and 2i, beingmounted on the underside of supporting plates 32 and and an anglesupport plate 34, which plates are, in turn, mounted on the horizontalflangeof the iramemembers 20 and 2|. A reel l0, which has dropped offthe track II and rolled down the" steeplysloping portions of the anglemembers 16 and I! will be ,wedged against the wedge plate soby-aninclined platform 35, which is normally positioned, as shown Figs.1 and 5. rrhepiat form 35 is held in place on-the an gle member l6 and l'l by' pins 36 and 31, which extend through apertures 38 and 39 in theangle members I6 and I1 and are fixed to the under side of the platform35. The pins 36 and 31 are each provided with a washer 48, which islocked onto its pin by a cotter pin 4|, whereby the platform 35 ispermitted to move relatively to theangle members l6 and I1 to a limitedextent. Adjacent its right end, the platform 35 has pivoted on its underside a pair of plungers 42 and 43, which extend down through a pair ofcylinders 44 and 45, respectively. The lower ends of the plungers 42 and43 are threaded to receive lock nut assemblies 46 and 41, which serve toprevent the plunger and, consequently, the platform 35, from movingupwardly beyond the position shown in Fig. 5. Encircling the plungers 42and 43 are a pair of compression springs 48 and 49, respectively, whichengage the bases of the cylinders 44' and 45 and the under side of theplatform 35 normally to urge the platform to the position shown in thevarious views.

Mounted on the angle members l6 and H. are.

a-pair of tapered members 55- and 56, which are.

designed to guide a reel l3 onto the platform 35. The tapered member 56is pivotallymounted on a pin 51' and is normally urged upwardly (Fig.)-by a plunger 58 of -aswitch 59i The switch 59 is normally open and isadapted .to be closed, upondepression of the tapered member 56, todepress the plunger 58 and thereby close the switch. The switch 59 (Fig.3) v is connected to a lead 68 running to one side of a current source6|. connected through a normally-closed switch .62- so that when theswitch 59 is closed, the lead 66 will be connected through theswitches59and 62- to'windings 63 and64 of a doublewound relay 65. The other end ofthe .windings 63 and 64 is connected-through a lead 66 to the-oppositeside of the current source 6|. Thewinding 63 of the relay 65controls=the operation ofnormally open contact 6? and immediatel-y'upon thclosure of the switch 59,- the winding63 will be energized to closecontacts 67 for providinga holding circuit from lead-66 through switch62 to the windings 53 and 64.

The winding 64 of the relay 65 is provided with a suitable meansfordelaying its'operation, for example, a copper slug 68. Therefore, thewinding 64' will *not'be effective to close its associated-contacts 69imrnediately upon the closure of't-heswi'tch 59, but will delay closingthe contact 69 for a predetermined interval. Closure of the contacts 69will connect the lead 66 to one side of the winding 16 of a solenoid II,the other side of the Winding of which is connected-directly to the lead65. The solenoid H is provided with a plunger 72 adapted 'to beattracted-upon energization of the solenoid and when the switch 59closes, a circuitwill be completed to the winding 63 of relay 65 toclose contacts 61 and current will'also be supplied through the switch62 to the-winding 64. This circuit, to hold the relay 65 energized, willbe maintained untilthe switch 62 is opened and the continued applicationof current to the winding-64 will, after a predeterminedinterval, causethe closure of switch69,thereby to energize the solenoid ll.

Thesolenoid ll is mounted upon a suitable bracket 86 and its plunger 12is connected to a slidable table 8|, which is mounted for slidingmovement to the right or left (Figs. 4 and 5) on a pair of rollers'82,mounted in a suitablehousing 83. The sides of the housing 83 haveretaining plates 85 fixed thereto for retaining The other side'of theswitch 59 is the table 8| in position on the rollers 82. EX- tendingupwardly from the table BI is a, bracket 86, to which is attached theleft end of a contractile spring 81 (Figs. 4 and 5). The right end ofthe contractile spring 81 is adjustably attached to a bracket 88 mountedon the end of the housing 83 by means of an adjustment screw 89.

From the foregoing, it is believed to be apparent that the table 8| isnormally urged to the right (Figs. 4 and 5) into engagement with the endwall of the housing 83 and, upon energiz'ation of the solenoid 1|, thetable 8| will be moved to the left. The table 8| has extending upwardlyfrom it a pair of projections 90 to which there are pivoted toggle links9| (Figs, 4, 5 and 6). The toggle links 9| are, in turn, pivoted attheir upper ends to projections 92 extending downwardly from the underside of the platform 35. By reference to Fig. 5, it will be seen thatthe toggle links 9| receive pivot pins 93, which pivotally connect themto the projections 92;.in elongated slots 94 so that the platform 35' isnot held: rigidly in its upper position by the toggle; 9|, but ispermitted alimitedamount of movement with respect to the link 9.1. Thus,when a reel l8 rolls onto the platform 35; it will depress the platformslightly against the action. ofv the springs 38. and 49 and the rims ofthe reel will not be damaged. Theswitch 62.15 adapted to beactuated by.a reel after the reel has been releasedfrom the platform35 and,accordingly; .theswitch 62' ismounted. on the under side. of: the anglemember H andv is. adapted to have its plunger I66 actuated by a. lever,|0|=mounted;fon oscillation on a pin I62, whichais, inturn,,mounted in ablock I83.

A better understanding of the invention will: be had by reference tothefollowing briefzde'e. scriptionof the mode of operation thereof.After the reels have been used in' some previoustoperation, for example,those operations describedaiin' detail in the co-pending application ofAxel C. Nystrom and Lester O. Reichelt,v Serial No. 397,402, filed June10, 1941, the reels may bepermitted to roll down the sloping conveyertrack! II and from the track ontothe trackway I3 As the reels leave thesteeply-sloping sectionof the trackway l3 and approach the-graduallysloping section thereof, they will engage the tapered member 56 anddepress theplunger 58-to close switch 59. Theclosure of switch 5-9 willsupply current to the windings 63 and 64 of the relay 65 throughnormally closed switch '62. As soon as the reel |0 rolls offthe taperedmember 56; the switch 59 will open, but the circuit-to the windings 63and 64 Willbe maintained through contacts 61*, which closed as soon asthe winding 63 was energized. Thus, the circuitto' the windings 63 and64 will be maintained through normally closed switch 62 until the switch62 is opened by the reel l0 engagingathe lever II, which opens switch62. The windin'g 64 of relay 65 will be energized assoon-asthe switch 59is closed and will bemaintained ener gized as long as the switch 62 isclosed and the switch 62 will remain closed until the reel-l0 efiectsits opening. After the circuit to the winding'64 of relay 65 has beenmaintained'for apredetermined interval, the slow-to-closecontacts 69will close and will complete the operating cir-- cuit-to the solenoid1|. Whenthesolenoid -'H is energized over this circuit, the table-8|-wil-l be drawn to the left (Figs. 4 and 5) and will per mit theweight of the reel I'll wedged betweentheplatform 35 and the wedge-plate -30- to depress noid 1|, roll onto the gradually inclined sectionof the trackway l3. As the reel l rolls ofi the platform 35, it willengage the lever I0! to cause the lever l0l to open switch 62. Whenswitch 62 opens, the circuit from lead 60 through closed contact 61 andswitch 62 to the windings of relay 65 will be broken and the circuitwill be restored to normal position, as shown in Fig. 3, ready to startanother cycle of operation.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for regulating the movement of articles on a conveyer,means on the conveyer for blocking movement of an article, means on theconveyer positioned between the entrance end of the conveyer and saidblocking means for initiating a releasing operation of said blockingmeans, means controlled by said means on the conveyer between theentrance end of the conveyer and the blocking means for moving saidblocking means out of the path of the article after a predeterminedinterval, and means on the conveyer between the blocking means and theexit end of the conveyer for resetting the means for releasing theblocking means under control of an article released by the blockingmeans.

2. In a conveyer for reels, the trackway down which reels may roll,wedging members along said trackway, one of which is movable, meansoperated by an article for initiating a cycle of movement of the movablewedging member,'a time delay mechanism controlled by said means operatedby the article for moving said movable wedging member a predeterminedtime after the operation of the means operated by the article, and meansalso operated by the article for resetting said last mentioned means.

3. In an apparatus for regulating the travel of reels along an inclinedtrack comprising a wedge plate above said track, a platform on saidtrack for receiving reels thereon, a slidable plate positioned beneathsaid trackway, toggle mechanism interconnecting said platform andslidable table, a solenoid for moving said table to effect movement ofthe platform through the toggle mechanism, means operable by the reelfor preparing the solenoid for operation, and automatic means undercontrol of said last mentioned means for supplying current to energizethe solenoid a predetermined time after said last mentioned means isoperated.

4. In an inclined trackway for reels, an inclined platform for receivingreels, a wedge plate cooperating with said platform to wedge a reelbetween them, a toggle mechanism for holding said platform in positionwith a reel between it and the wedge plate, a solenoid operable forreleasing said platform, and a time delay mechanism operable undercontrol of a reel on the trackway for initiating operation of thesolenoid a predetermined interval after the article engages theplatform.

5. In an inclined trackway for reels, an inclined platform for receivingreels, a wedge plate cooperating with said platform to wedge a reelbetween them, a toggle mechanism for holding said platform in positionwith a reel between it and the wedge plate, a solenoid operable forreleasing said platform, 'atime'delay mechanism operable under controlof a reel on the trackway for initiating operation of the solenoid apredetermined interval after the article engages the platform, and meansoperable by the article after it is released from the platform forreleasing the solenoid. v

6. An apparatus for regulating the movement of articles on a conveyercomprising an upwardly inclined pivoted track, a fixed horizontal membercooperating with said track to wedge an article between them and stopits movement on the conveyer, a switch operable by an article just priorto the articles engagement with the inclined track, and means controlledby said switch for moving the track out of position to cooperate withthe horizontal member after the lapse of a predetermined time interval.

7. In an apparatus for controlling the travel of articles on a conveyer,means movable to stop an article on the conveyer, and a circuitcontrolled by the article including a switch closed by the article, asolenoid operable to move the means for stopping the article on theconveyer to position to release the article, and time delay meansoperable under control of the switch for initiating operation of thesolenoid a predetermined time after the article operates the switch.

8. In an apparatus for controlling the travel of an article on aconveyer, means normally blocking movement of an article on theconveyer, means for moving the blocking means out of its normalposition, a control circuit for said moving means including meansoperable by an article for initiating operation of the circuit, meanscontrolled by the last mentioned means for supplying power to operatethe moving means after a predetermined time interval, and meanscontrolled by the article for resetting the circuit.

9. In an apparatus for controlling the travel of articles on a conveyer,means movable to stop an article on the conveyer, and a circuitcontrolled by the article including a switch closed by the article, asolenoid operable to move the means for stopping the article on theconveyer to position to release the article, and a time delay relayoperable under control of the switch for initiating operation of thesolenoid a predetermined time after the article operates the switch.

10. In an apparatus for controlling the travel of articles on aconveyer, means movable to stop an article on the conveyer, a circuitcontrolled by the article including a switch closed by the article, asolenoid operable to move the means for stopping the article on theconveyer to position to release the article, a time delay relay operableunder control of the switch for initiating operation of the solenoid apredetermined time after the article operates the switch, and a lockingcircuit operable under control of said switch for maintaining thecircuit to the time delay relay.

11. In an apparatus for controlling the travel of articles on aconveyer, means movable to stop an article on the conveyer, a circuitcontrolled by the article including a switch closed by the article, asolenoid operable to move the means for stopping the article on theconveyer to position to release the article, a time delay relay operableunder control of the switch for initiating operation of the solenoid apredetermined time after the article operates the switch, a lockingcircuit operable under control of said switch for maintaining thecircuit to the time delay relay, and a second means controlled by thearticle for releasing the locking circuit.

12.: In an apparatus'efor controlling the travel of articles on aconveyer, m'eansmovable. to stop an article onthe conveyer, acircuit:controlled by the article including a switch closedby: the article, asolenoid'operable to move the meansrfor stopping the article on theconveyerto position to release the article, a time delay relay operableunder: controllof the. switch for initiating: operation or the;solenoid. a predetermined 7 time, after: the-article operates: the:switch, alocking circuit operable under control of said! switch formaintaining; the; circuit to the? time delay relay; andiai switchoperable by the article after thearticle is released-Ion opening the:locking circuit.

LESTER Oa-REICHELT. GORDON C. SPILLMAN.

